EDITORIAL -- Our Newport picks

We’ve already told Newport Beach residents what we think they

shouldn’t do to slow development and improve their quality of life.Don’t

pass either Measure S or Measure T.

That’s because we have a better answer, one that’s tried and true and

basic.

The answer is to get out to the polls on Nov. 7 and change the

complexion of the City Council. And we have the people who we think can

do just that. They are people who support controlled growth, people who

love this town, people who promise to listen to and, more importantly,

act on residents’ concerns.

John Heffernan in District 7, Steve Bromberg in District 5 and Gary

Proctor in District 2 deserve your vote.

Heffernan, who has stated his support for Greenlight, has earned our

backing because of his reputation for questioning the spending and

priorities of the Hoag Hospital Foundation 552 Club. The council needs a

critical and not easily convinced personality. Also, while we didn’t

endorse Greenlight, we think their perspective is also needed on the

council.

We don’t take not endorsing an incumbent like Tom Thomson lightly.

Thomson has worked hard during his four years on the council, but he has

not done enough or worked effectively enough as the community’s

conscience to win our support.

Bob Wynn is also another tough choice. We are great admirers of him

and know he served the city wonderfully during his two decades as city

manager. But with that service comes baggage, including an embezzlement

scandal that happened on his watch. Wynn has also remained steadfastly

behind Measure T, and we worry that he would be tainted in the eyes of

many people, thus continuing the divisiveness that has hurt the city and

brought about the Greenlight measure.

It is time for the council to begin working together for Newport

Beach’s best interests and not as individuals trying to serve their own.

We think Bromberg, whose work involves mediating legal disputes, will

bring a uniting influence to the council. He also has proven his

commitment to the community through numerous volunteer efforts and is

willing and able, we think, to listen and respond to his neighbors’

needs.

Bromberg gets our support over Pat Beek and Robert Schoonmaker because

he has more experience negotiating Newport’s political waters. But we

would like to see both Beek and Schoonmaker continue with their community

involvement, where they serve so well. Both should remain loud voices

calling for managed, responsible growth in the community.

But managed growth and the Greenlight Initiative are not the only

issue bearing down hard on Newport Beach. The El Toro airport fight

remains a looming, ever-growing problem. For 17 years, Proctor has been

an Orange County airport commissioner. He knows the issue inside and out,

and has the expertise the city needs to find a solution. He recognizes an

international airport at El Toro would be a tough sell to South County

residents. Negotiating for a workable airport at El Toro, as well as

extending the flight restrictions on John Wayne Airport, will be a needed

skill in the coming years.

Proctor also has stated his support for the philosophy behind

Greenlight. And while he may not have the support of its backers the way

Dennis Lahey does, we believe he brings a more complete package to the

table. We do hope to see Lahey fighting for the American Legion Post in

the coming months.

The day after the election, the City Council -- no matter which

candidates are elected or if Greenlight passes -- needs to hear the

clarion wake-up call coming from residents. Too many are sick of not

being heard. Too many think the council is tied up with business and

development interests.

Gary Adams, Norma Glover, Dennis O’Neil and Tod Ridgeway need to

remember that they were elected to serve the best interests of their

neighbors. That does not mean shutting down development entirely, but it

does mean carefully considering whether the benefits outweigh legitimate,

deep-felt concerns among residents.

And it certainly means coming up with ways of managing the most

sensitive changes to our landscape. Good ideas about how to do so are out

there. The council and city staff need to investigate what other cities

did when faced with similar problems.

They may even find a good solution next door.

In 1990, angered by plans to build on the Huntington Beach waterfront,

residents there gathered almost 20,000 signatures to put Measure C on the

ballot.

That initiative, which won overwhelming support, prohibits any

development on the city’s parks and beaches without a vote by the people.

We’re not advocating a new initiative. Because as we’ve all seen

elections in Newport Beach are very costly. Witness Measure T’s $350,000

in contributions and the handful of candidates who have raised nearly

$50,000 or more.

But the council needs to make the public believe in that institution

again. It needs to make residents believe that their interests will

always be the top priority, not the interests of big developers and big

business.

So send the council a strong message this Nov. 7. And also send them

three strong people to carry out the will of the people. Send them

Heffernan, Bromberg and Proctor.